The Dossier: How Argentina finally cracked Barcelona's Messi code

One goal against Saudi Arabia would see the forward beat Gabriel Batistuta's long-standing single year record, and a tactical rethink from the coach can take much of the credit

By Daniel Edwards

Nov 13, 2012 9:47:00 AM

TACTICAL ANALYSIS The scene in Santa Fe would be forged into the minds of
Argentine football fans across the globe. The hosts crashed out of
the Copa America at the quarterfinal stage, eliminated by bitter
rival Uruguay by way of a penalty shootout after an uninspiring 1-1
draw. Question marks were once again building over the head of
Lionel Messi. Once more European champion with Barcelona and on his
way to claim a third successive Ballon d’Or title, the little
genius was not by any means poor throughout the championship but he
failed to hit the net in any of Argentina’s four games before
premature elimination.

ARGENTINA VS. URUGUAY,
2011

NO PLACE TO GO: Batista's rigid 4-2-3-1 too often
left Messi & Higuain isolated up front, while Aguero was in and
out of the starting line-up.

Fifteen months down the line, ‘La Pulga’s’ luck could not have
changed more drastically in international colors. Handed the
captaincy by Sergio Batista’s replacement Alejandro Sabella from
his very first game in charge, Messi responded to the challenge
magnificently to record his best ever season for the Albiceleste,
finally expelling the doubts that had continued to linger in his
home nation over why a player who dazzled the world in Catalunya
somehow could not repeat that form for his own country.

While the captaincy and unconditional support shown to him by
the ex-Estudiantes coach and Copa Libertadores winner has been
crucial to Leo’s development, the real reason for his incredible
renaissance with the Seleccion can also be explained in more
prosaic terms. Messi is presented in Argentina as a Superman,
capable of dismantling teams almost singlehandedly; but the modest
25-year-old would be the first to recognize that it is the players
around him who have helped him to reach new heights in the last
year.

The changes in the system have been subtle, with Batista’s
attempt to imitate Barcelona with a 4-2-3-1 lineup using Gonzalo
Higuain as a sole center forward tinkered with rather than
overhauled. In its place, Sabella has favored using three strikers,
playing Messi in a more advanced role alongside Gonzalo Higuain and
Sergio Aguero. ‘Pipita’s’ goalscoring exploits are barely a secret,
but it has been the regular inclusion of Diego Maradona’s
son-in-law that has been key to Messi and Argentina’s
renaissance.

Dubbed “Scottie Pippen” to Messi’s "Michael Jordan” by a
well-respected Argentine journalist, Manchester City star Aguero
has revelled in the continuity given to him by Sabella that he
could not win under Batista, who alternated the former
Independiente wonderkid with Ezequiel Lavezzi and Carlos Tevez. ‘El
Kun’ takes the creative pressure off Messi’s back, dropping deep to
find the ball in midfield and combining with his forward partners
to ensure that when the Blaugrana forward does receive the ball, it
is with the goal well within his sights.